Method and apparatus for providing wireless power to a load device
An apparatus includes a first converter module, a second converter module, and a sensor module. The first converter module converts a wireless power associated with an electromagnetic wave to a first DC voltage. The first converter module can include, for example, a Villiard cascade voltage multiplier, a precision rectifier, or a full-wave bridge rectifier. The sensor module monitors the first DC voltage. The second converter module converts the first DC voltage to a second DC voltage that is larger than the first DC voltage. The second converter module is enabled by the sensor module when the first DC voltage is above a first threshold voltage. The second converter module is disabled by the sensor module when the first DC voltage is below a second threshold voltage that is lower than the first threshold voltage. The second converter module provides power to a load based on the second DC voltage.
1. An apparatus, comprising:
a first converter module configured to convert a wireless power associated with an electromagnetic wave to a first DC voltage;
a sensor module configured to monitor the first DC voltage, the sensor module configured to produce an output associated with the first DC voltage, the sensor module configured to maintain the first DC voltage between a first threshold voltage and a second threshold voltage; and
a second converter module configured to convert the first DC voltage to a second DC voltage larger than the first DC voltage, the second converter module configured to be enabled by the output from the sensor module when the first DC voltage is above the first threshold voltage, the second converter module configured to be disabled by the output from the sensor module when the first DC voltage is below the second threshold voltage lower than the first threshold voltage, the second converter module configured to provide power to a load device based on the second DC voltage;
an antenna configured to receive the electromagnetic wave; and
an impedance matching module configured to substantially match an impedance of the first converter module and an impedance of the antenna over a frequency range including a center frequency associated with the electromagnetic wave, when the first DC voltage is maintained between the first threshold voltage and the second threshold voltage.
2. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising:
a storage device coupled to the first converter module, the sensor module, and the second converter module, the storage device configured to store a charge associated with the first DC voltage.
3. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising:
the first converter module including a voltage multiplier having an input portion and an output portion, the input portion of the voltage multiplier coupled to the antenna via the impedance matching module, the output portion of the voltage multiplier coupled to the sensor module and the second converter.
4. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising:
the first converter module including a full-wave rectifier having an input portion and an output portion, the input portion of the full-wave rectifier coupled to the antenna via the impedance matching module, the output portion of the full-wave rectifier coupled to the sensor module and the second converter.
5. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the second converter module includes a boost converter module.
6. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising:
a load device; and
a rectifying device coupled to the second converter module and the load device, the rectifying device configured to limit a reverse current from the load device to the second converter module.
7. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the wireless power is a first wireless power, the impedance matching module is a first impedance module, the apparatus further comprising:
a third converter module configured to convert a second wireless power associated with the electromagnetic wave to a third DC voltage;
a fourth converter module configured to convert the third DC voltage to a fourth DC voltage larger than the third DC voltage,
a second impedance matching module configured to substantially match an impedance of the third converter module and the impedance of the antenna over a second frequency range different from the first frequency range;
a selector module configured to couple the first impedance matching module and the second impedance matching module to the antenna; and
a combiner module configured to add the second DC voltage from the second converter module and the fourth DC voltage from the fourth converter module to produce a combined voltage, the combiner module configured to charge a load device based the combined voltage.
8. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the wireless power is a first wireless power, the impedance matching module is a first impedance matching module, the apparatus further comprising:
a third converter module configured to convert a second wireless power associated with the electromagnetic to a third DC voltage;
a fourth converter module configured to convert the third DC voltage to a fourth DC voltage larger than the third DC voltage,
a second impedance matching module configured to substantially match an impedance of the third converter module and the impedance of the antenna over a second frequency range different from the first frequency range;
a selector module having a first configuration or a second configuration, the selector module configured to couple the first impedance matching module to the antenna when in the first configuration, the selector module configured to couple the second impedance matching module to the antenna when in the second configuration;
a control module configured to produce an output to configure the selector module in the first configuration or the second configuration, the selector module configured to receive the output from the control module; and
a combiner module configured to add the second DC voltage from the second converter module and the fourth DC voltage from the fourth converter module to produce a combined voltage, the combiner module configured to provide power to a load device based on the combined voltage.
9. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the antenna is a first antenna, the wireless power is a first wireless power, the apparatus further comprising:
a third converter module configured to convert a second wireless power received via a second antenna to a third DC voltage; and
a storage device configured to store a charge associated with the third DC voltage;
the first converter module configured to be biased by the charge from the storage device.
10. The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the third converter module includes an impedance matching module configured to substantially match an impedance of the third converter module and an impedance of the second antenna over a frequency range that includes at least a portion of a frequency spectrum associated with the second wireless power.
11. The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein:
the third converter module includes a voltage multiplier having an input portion and an output portion, the input portion of the voltage multiplier coupled to the second antenna, the output portion of the voltage multiplier coupled to the storage device and the first converter module.
12. The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein:
the first wireless power is associated with a first radio frequency spectrum, and
the second wireless power is associated with a second radio frequency spectrum different from the first radio frequency spectrum.
13. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the wireless power is a first wireless power, the apparatus further comprising:
a third converter module configured to convert a second wireless power associated with the electromagnetic wave to a third DC voltage.
14. The apparatus of claim 13 , further comprising:
a splitter operatively coupled to the antenna, the splitter configured to provide the first wireless power to the first converter and the second wireless power to the third converter.
15. The apparatus of claim 13 , further comprising:
a load module operatively coupled to the third converter module.
16. An apparatus, comprising:
a first storage device;
a second storage device;
a converter module configured to convert a wireless power received via an antenna to a DC voltage; and
a switch module having a first configuration and a second configuration, the switch module configured to couple the converter module to the first storage device when in the first configuration, the switch module configured to couple the converter module to the second storage device when in the second configuration;
the first storage device configured to store a charge associated with the DC voltage from the converter module when the first storage device is coupled to the converter module via the switch module, the second storage device configured to store a charge associated with the DC voltage from the converter module when the second storage device is coupled to the converter module via the switch module, the first storage device and the second storage device collectively configured to charge a load device.
17. The apparatus of claim 16 , further comprising:
a control module configured to produce an output to configure the switch module in the first configuration or the second configuration, the switch module configured to receive the output from the control module.
18. The apparatus of claim 16 , further comprising:
a control module configured to monitor a voltage associated with a charge stored in the first storage device and a charge stored in the second storage device, the control module configured to produce an output to configure the switch module in the first configuration or the second configuration based on at least one of the voltage associated with the charge stored in the first storage device and the voltage associated with the charge stored in the second storage device, the switch module configured to receive the output from the control module.
19. The apparatus of claim 16 , further comprising:
a control module configured to receive a signal having timing information, the control module configured to produce an output to configure the switch module in the first configuration or the second configuration based on the timing information, the switch module configured to receive the output from the control module.
20. An apparatus, comprising:
a first storage device;
a second storage device;
a converter module configured to convert a wireless power received via an antenna to a DC voltage; and
a switch module having a first configuration and a second configuration, the switch module configured to couple the first storage device, the second storage device, and the converter module in a parallel configuration when in the first configuration, the switch module configured to couple the first storage device, the second storage device, and a load in a series configuration when in the second configuration;
the first storage device configured to store a charge associated with the DC voltage from the converter module when the first storage device is coupled to the converter module via the switch module, the second storage device configured to store a charge associated with the DC voltage from the converter module when the second storage device is coupled to the converter module via the switch module, the first storage device and the second storage device collectively configured to charge the load device when the first storage device and the second storage device are coupled to the load device via the switch module.
21. The apparatus of claim 20 , further comprising:
a control module coupled to the switch module, the control module configured to produce an output to configure the switch module in the first configuration or the second configuration, the switch module configured to receive the output from the control module.
22. The apparatus of claim 20 , further comprising:
a control module coupled to the switch module, the control module configured to monitor a voltage associated with a charge stored in the first storage device, the control module configured to produce an output to configure the switch module in the first configuration or the second configuration based on the voltage associated with the charge stored in the first storage device, the switch module configured to receive the output from the control module.
23. The apparatus of claim 20 , further comprising:
a control module coupled to the switch module, the control module configured to receive a signal having timing information, the control module configured to produce an output to configure the switch module in the first configuration or the second configuration based on the timing information, the switch module configured to receive the output from the control module.